Nurses’ Awareness, Experiences, and Recommendations Regarding Preventing Patient Falls During Bariatric Surgery: A Qualitative Study

Background: Understanding nurses’ awareness, experience, and recommendations regarding the prevention of patient falls during bariatric surgery is critical to strengthen patient safety and improve the quality of care. This study aimed to determine in depth the experiences of operating room (OR) nurses regarding patient falls during bariatric surgery and their opinions and suggestions for the prevention of patient falls. Materials and Methods: The study is qualitative. It was conducted with 14 OR nurses working in a hospital in Turkey. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. MAXQDA Software, a qualitative data analysis tool, was used. Results: In the findings of the study, a total of 4 themes (attitudes toward patient falls, experiences during patient falls, situations affecting patient falls, and suggestions for preventing patient falls), 15 subthemes, and 23 codes were identified. Conclusions: It was determined that OR nurses who experienced patient falls were meticulous about taking precautions intraoperatively. During bariatric surgery, the patient should be immobilized, safe surgical equipment should be used, and health care professionals should be trained in this regard.